Laurel oak tree named ‘QHMTF’

ABSTRACT

A Laurel oak tree ( Quercus hemisphaerica ) named “QHMTF” having a compact habit with dense canopy, vigorous growth rate, shiny rich dark green foliage in summer, and semi-evergreen holding leaves until late spring and also capable of being reproduced reliably from vegetative cuttings.

Latin name: Quercus hemisphaerica.

Varietal denomination: ‘QHMTF’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of LaurelOak Tree (Quercus hemisphaerica), which I have named “QHMTF”.

Discovery: I discovered my new tree in November of 2005 growing as aseedling in a production field in Loganville, Walton County, Ga., amonga group of cultivated Laurel Oaks. These trees were grown from bare-rootseedlings purchased of unknown Quercus hemisphaerica parents purchasedin the winter of 2000 from a nursery in Florida. In the winter of 2003,these liners were relocated from my liner field to a production field.It was here that I discovered ‘QHMTF’. Evaluation of this tree continuesin this field in Walton County, Loganville, Ga.

Propagation: ‘QHMTF’ was asexually propagation by the method ofvegetative cuttings at my direction in the summer of 2008 in WaltonCounty, Ga. This propagation from softwood cuttings and resultingprogeny has proven the characteristics of my new variety to begenetically stable. Furthermore, these observations have confirmed thatmy new variety represents a new and improved variety of Laurel Oak asparticularly evidenced by the compact habit with dense canopy, dominantcentral leader, fibrous root system, vigorous growth rate, and shiny,rich, dark green foliage in summer and holding onto leaves until springalong with the fact that it is the only known Quercus hemisphaerica tobe reproduced from softwood cuttings. These genetic traits can beconsistently reproduced by asexual propagation.

Uniqueness: ‘QHMTF’ was discovered in a block of seedling Laurel Oak(unknown Quercus hemisphaerica parents) purchased from a supplier ofliners in Florida. I claim that the genetic characteristics of this treeare the result of naturally occurring cross-pollination. Due to thenature of the seedling purchase, comparison of surrounding crosspollinators is not possible. The characteristics of my new tree alongwith the fact that it is the only known Quercus hemisphaerica to bereproduced from softwood cuttings distinguish it from other typicalseedling Laurel Oak including ‘Darlington’. At the time this tree wasselected, I observed ‘QHMTF’ Laurel Oak as a 2″ caliper tree exhibitinga compact, dense canopy, dominant central leader, and shiny, dark greenfoliage. The remainder of the trees in this block had irregularstructure and medium green foliage color.

Use: ‘QHMTF’ was observed for a period of several years and is believedto be particularly useful for street tree planting and in large areassuch as golf courses, commercial sites and parks. ‘QHMTF’ will alsobenefit growers who will profit from a fast growing tree with consistentform.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Background: Laurel Oak is native to coastal plain and piedmont areasfrom southern New Jersey to Florida to east Texas and SoutheastArkansas. It thrives in the heat and humidity of the Southeast and canbe found in established dune areas, scrub oak sandhills, stream banksand occasionally in mixed woods. Laurel Oak prefers moist, well-drainedsoils in these areas but adapt readily to harsh conditions. This speciesis typically pyramidal-rounded with ultimate height of 40 to 60 feet andspread of 30 to 40 feet. My new cultivar differs from the species inthat it is asexually reproduced, has a compact habit with dense canopy,dominant central leader, fibrous root system, vigorous growth rate, andshiny, rich, dark green foliage in summer and holding onto leaves untilspring. The ultimate height and width of ‘QHMTF’ is not known. I expectmy new variety of Laurel Oak to perform as well as the species.

Industry Representation: Cultivated Laurel Oak is predominatelyrepresented in the industry by seedling material reproduced by acorn.This accounts for a high degree of variability in the industry, both inthe landscape industry and nursery. Seedling Laurel Oak (including‘Darlington’) is variable in growth rate and habit, typically does nothave a central leader, has a sparse, shallow root system, and tends tobe open in youth. At time of submission, I am not aware of any othercommercially available cultivar Laurel Oak. ‘QHMTF’ has a compact habitwith dense canopy, dominant central leader, fibrous root system,vigorous growth rate, shiny, rich, dark green foliage in summer andholding onto leaves until spring along; it is the only known Quercushemisphaerica reproduced from softwood cuttings. These genetic traitscan be consistently reproduced by asexual propagation which makes myselection uniquely different from seedling Laurel Oak (including‘Darlington’) at time of submittal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs depict the color of the tree and foliage ofmy new variety as nearly as is reasonably possibly to make the same in acolor illustration of this character.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the original parent ‘QHMTF’ variety from whichthe progeny are derived taken in the summer at seven years of age andfour inch caliper at an observation area showing form and habit;

FIG. 2 is a field row photograph of the progeny in the fall at fouryears of age with each tree showing a dominant central leader andvariations in fall color;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the interior canopy of the progeny at fouryears of age showing a dominant central leader;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the bark of the progeny taken at five inchcaliper and seven years of age showing color and smoothness of my newvariety;

FIG. 5 is a field row shot of progeny taken at 5 inch caliper and sevenyears of age with each tree showing a dominant central leader, and

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the shiny, dark green foliage of the progenyat seven years of age.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Botanical Description of the Plant: The following is a detaileddescription of ‘QHMTF’ Laurel Oak with color terminology in accordancewith The Royal Horticulture Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart (2001) exceptwhere the context indicates a term having its ordinary dictionarymeaning. My new tree has not been observed under all growing conditions,and variations may occur as a result of different growing conditions.All progeny of my new variety, insofar as have been observed, haveremained genetically stable in all characteristics describedhereinafter. Other than as set out hereinafter, as of this time, noother characteristics have been observed which are different from commonLaurel Oak trees, which have been observed by the inventor.

-   Parentage: Naturally occurring cross-pollinated seedling of (unknown    Quercus hemisphaerica parents) grown from bare-root liner purchased    in the winter of 2001 from a nursery in Florida.-   Locality where grown and observed: ‘QHMTF’ Laurel Oak trees are    currently in production at in Walton County, Ga. This area of Walton    County has a clay loam soil type with rainfall that varies between    30″ and 60″ annually. This particular area is located in USDA    Hardiness Zone 7.-   Size and growth rate: The original parent ‘QHMTF’ tree, aged 5 years    measured 6.25″ caliper at 12″ above the ground. The height of 24′    and spread of 13′ provides a 1.85 height to width ratio. Average    growth rate is between 1.00″ to 1.25″ per year.-   Foliage: Typical of the species, alternate, simple, evergreen until    spring, lanceolate, elliptic to oblanceolate, obovate, or    oblong-obovate, 1.25″ to 4″ long, ½″ to 1.25″ wide, acute or obtuse,    usually with a bristle-tip, cuneate or obtuse at base. The spring    color emerges from a greyed-orange (RHS N170) to a yellow-green (RHS    144). Mature foliage is lustrous dark green above like (RHS 137A)    and lighter green below like (RHS 137C). The fall color is a russet    red like (RHS N167B). The petiole is 0.25″ long, yellowish like (RHS    10B). The petiole diameter is 1/16″.-   Buds: Imbricate, shiny greyed purple like (RHS 183D) ⅛″ to ¼″ long,    essentially glabrous, small for oak buds.-   Flowers: Typical of species. Flowers are borne in clustered catkins    in March and April, usually lasting for 10 to 14 days.-   Fruit: Typical of the species being short-stalked (virtually    sessile), the nut subglobose to ovoid about ½″ in both diameter and    length and brown in color like (RHS 200B) and enclosed ¼″ by the    saucer-shaped cap which is grey-brown like (RHS 199B).-   Trunk: Typical of the species. The bark is initially smooth, and    brown like (RHS N200B), becoming darker with maturity.-   Branching: Slightly ascending to nearly horizontal at the base,    emerging at 80-90 degrees from the trunk. Upper branches are more    ascending, emerging at 45 degrees or more from the trunk. Color is    brown like (RHS 200B).-   Shape: Compact, pyramidal with dense branching and dominant central    leader.-   Root system: Fibrous, typical of Quercus hemisphaerica.-   Vigor: The initially discovered tree has averaged between 1.0″ to    1.25″ in caliper per year. The root development from time of    softwood cuttings to a finished rooted 3½″ pot is five to seven    weeks.-   Disease: Free from disease.-   Pests: Displays spider mite resistance but does show signs of mild    leaf hopper damage.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Laurel oak treenamed “QHMTF” substantially as herein shown, illustrated and described,characterized particularly as to novelty by its compact habit with densecanopy, vigorous growth rate, shiny rich dark green foliage in summer,and semi-evergreen holding leaves until spring.